(Boston)—Pregnancy and postpartum are critical time periods when immigrants may be particularly vulnerable to unmet medical and social needs. A 2023 report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health revealed that foreign-born Massachusetts residents are 1.4 times more likely to experience severe maternal morbidity compared with US-born residents.
A new study by researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has found that Haitian immigrants who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 or later were more likely to experience high blood pressure during pregnancy and financial difficulties after giving birth compared to those who immigrated earlier, potentially increasing their risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes.
"These findings are important because they highlight the serious health risks faced by recent Haitian immigrants, such as high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can lead to complications for both mother and baby," explained corresponding author G. Saradjha Brédy, BA, research assistant in general internal medicine.
To better understand health risks and social needs, the researchers surveyed 35 Haitian-born mothers about their health and social concerns before, during and after pregnancy. They then compared the answers from those who came to the U.S. before 2021 with those who arrived in 2021 or later, looking for differences in their health conditions, pregnancy complications and financial struggles. Among the more recent immigrants, the researchers identified a higher prevalence of hypertension in pregnancy and postpartum financial concerns.
According to the researchers, financial struggles, including difficulty affording food and housing, further impact their overall well-being. "Given the ongoing maternal health crisis in the U.S., more data on the pregnancy and postpartum health risks of immigrants in the U.S. is urgently needed. This information can help doctors, hospitals, and policymakers develop better healthcare and support systems for Haitian immigrant mothers, as well as for immigrants from other backgrounds who migrate to the U.S.," said senior author Mara Murray Horwitz MD, MPH, assistant professor of medicine at BU.
These findings appear online in the Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.
This paper was supported by the Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine Department of Medicine Career Investment Award; the American Heart Association Career Development Award, 937987; and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, K23 HL165097.
